Memorandum submitted by the Youth Hostels
Association (DMB 21)
1. The object of YHA is to help all, especially
young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge love and
care of the countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values
of towns and cities, particularly by providing Youth Hostels or
other accommodation for them in their travels, and thus promote
their health, recreation and education.
2. YHA is building the next generation accommodation
network, for the next generation of YHA guests and wishes to see
access to the countryside and the coast improved for long term
use by the present and future generations and thus be able to
promote their health, recreation and education.
3. YHA supports a responsible and safe use
of the countryside by all and encourages the use of its hostels
and the countryside by all types of users including deprived and
ethnic groups, disabled, visitors from overseas, families, educational
groups and individuals but especially young people.
4. YHA is developing a Fit for Purpose initiative
to prepare its hostels and staff for the future needs of its guests
and considers that the Coastal Access Improvement Programmes should
deliver a Fit for Purpose continuous coastal path and access zone.
5. YHA has 43 of its 210 Youth Hostels in
England in the coastal zone and therefore has a large stake in
providing accommodation for users of coastal access.
6. YHA strongly supports the inclusion of
coastal access as a new dimension to the Draft Marine Bill.
7. YHA supports the concept of a coastal
zone rather than a limited and perhaps narrow linear coastal path.
This will enable the provision of alternative routes especially
where these provide a safer, easier and less challenging route
for users especially young people and the handicapped. There will
be the need to create alternative routes for wheelchair users
for families with pushchairs, cyclists and horse riders. It will
provide the opportunity for the provision of additional access
rights for cyclists.
8. YHA supports the proposed new legislation
as the best and most cost-effective means of providing increased
access to the coast.
9. The route/zone must be permanent so that
visitors can plan in advance. It is important that in areas of
coastal erosion, a mechanism must be in place to ensure that there
is an immediate alternative route available. This may require
the use of a permissive path until a new permanent path is created.
The effects of climate change and the potential effects of a changing
coastline should be considered. To ensure safety and enjoyment
roadside routes should be avoided where possible.
10. YHA considers that in some cases a linear
fence or hedgerow should be provided for safety reasons. There
will be a need in some cases for steps and handrails. Protruding
stones should be removed or cut back to provide a safer more comfortable
walking surface. Ground and surface water drainage should be provided
which will reduce erosion and improve walking conditions.
11. YHA considers that the case for deviations
away from the coast shall be exceptional and that provision should
be made for coastal access through dockland and industrial zones
and also land used for military training. At all times the zone
of coastal access should provide views of the sea.
12. YHA welcomes the creation of link routes
to facilities for food, drink and toilets, to settlements and
to public transport and accommodation. YHA would support link
routes to its hostels and link routes that would provide circular
routes of varying length and difficulty including a coastal section.
13. The Draft Bill still favours industrial
landowners perhaps because of health and safety concerns and efforts
should be made to over come these difficulties with stronger legislation.
14. Some new estuary and river crossings
may be required over rivers and smaller streams. Alternative routes
should be considered in cases where the availability of the route
is determined by tidal conditions for example the use of stepping
stones in tidal estuaries.
15. YHA has jointly prepared with 7 other
organizations a paper "Sea change for the Coast of Wales"
that suggests additional criteria including a coastal zone. YHA
believes that these should also apply in England. In fact YHA
would like to see a common provision in England and Wales.
Temporary diversions should be made available
to known user groups and provided on the web as far as possible
in advance. This should also apply where the land is in use by
the Ministry of Defence.
16. The classes of land to be excepted from
access rights should be kept to a minimum. YHA does not support
all the categories of excepted land listed in section 6. Our comments
are as follows:
Land covered by buildings but not the curtilage
of such land except domestic premises.
Land used as a garden but not land used as a
park except where there are already established hours of closure.
Land used for mineral workings should not include
inactive workings except where there are safety considerations.
Land used for purposes of a railway must for
safety reasons remain as excepted land even though access is barred
to certain sections of the coastline by adjacent railways.
Land used for racecourses should be made available
for access when not in use.
Land used for aerodromes should remain exempted.
Land that is being developed should take into
account the provision for coastal access.
Land covered by works for a statutory undertaking
should remain exempted.
Land under the Military Lands Act should be made
available for access where ever possible.
We consider that many areas of industrial land
and dockland adjacent to the coast could be opened up for access
with appropriate fencing and security measures.
We trust you will look at additional changes.
17. YHA supports the arrangements for limiting
liability.
18. YHA supports the provision for access
rights for cyclists and horse riders provided that this is not
to the detriment of walkers and where possible an alterative path
is provided.
19. YHA notes the provision for oral evidence
sessions.
20. YHA supports the proposed order under
section 3A of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.
R L Pittard
Youth Hostels Association
May 2008
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